Mining machine



Oct. 2, 1928.

w. T. MOCULLOUGH MINING MACHINE Original Filed Jan. 5. 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 1,686,140.. w. T. M CULLOUGlj MINING mach INF)" 5 Sheets- Sheet 2 Original Filed Jain 1921 Def. 2, 1928. W. T. M CULLOUGH MINING MACHINE Ori inal Filed Jan. 3,1921

5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Q m A NM. A

mm .mw 3 MN. mm Q Q Oct. V2, 1921; 4 I 1,686,140

w. T. McCULLOUGH MINING MACHINE Original FiledJan. 5. 1921 s Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Oct. 2, 1923,

"Umrso srarss WILLIAM r. mecuttonen, or c IoAeo, rnLIno 's, uss'renon 'ro' eoonnan Manurac'ru'nr'ive COMPANY, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION on ILLINOIS.

MINING MACHINE.

Continuation of application Serial No. 434,591, filed January 3, 1921. This a liance filed December 29,

1922, Serial no. 609,617.

This invention relates to mining machines of theeontinuous cutter type, which are adapted to be fed and guided during the cutting operation by means of suitable draft cables anchored at a distance from the machine. More specifically, the present invention relates to an improved form of mining machine of the class shown and described in the application of Charles E. Davis, Serial No. 374,746, filed April 17th, 1920, in which a mining machine of the continuous cutter type provided with two cable drums similarly constructed, and each adapted to be either driven by the mining machine motor to wind the draft cable on the drum or to pay out the cable from the drum in the opposite direction under control of the retarding device associated therewith.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved construction of cable drum fora machineof the class above referred to This application is a continuation of the application of WVilliam T. Mc- Cullough, Serial No. 434, 591, filed-January 7 8rd, 1921, combined with the description embodied in the application of Charles E. Davis, above referred to, to which the improved form of-cable drum has been applied. In the embodiment herein described, which illustrates one of several forms which my invention maytake, I. have shown two r'ope drums, one of which is adapted to be nor mally driven, and the other of which is provided with a retarding means comprising a friction-controlled releasing device. However, I find that certain additional advantages in the guiding and manipulation of the machine are obtained by a construction in which the normal functions of the two drums may be mutually reversed at certain times, particularlyas the machine is approaching and leaving the normal cutting position. Accordinyly, in the present invention, I provide means whereby the drum which is norinall v the tail-rope drum may be positively driven by the motor, while the other drum is simultaneously disconnected from the motor and allowed to be released by an adjustable friction devic I also provide variable speed mechanism affording operative connect-ion at will between themotor and either of'the. two drums.

' The main purpose in thus reversing the functions of the rope drums is to facilitate ReneWedI/Laroh 5, 1928.

the movement of the machine as it is being applied to, and withdrawn from, the working face, and to eliminate certain replacements of the rope anchors which are necessary with the ordinaryt-ype of machine, thereby affording a more continuous movement of the machine. A distinction must therefore be made between the temporary reversal of the above, and a complete reversal of the direc tion of cutting". I The functions of the drums both feed and tail-rope drums, but in which the drums are simultaneously driven in op .posite directions so. that the tail-rope is paid functions ofthe drums for the purpose stated out at the same'rateithat the feed rope is wound in, for the purpose of maintaining a right-angljed relation of the machine to the face during'the cutting operation. =As will appear in the description of the operation of thepresent invention,the manipulation of the machine while'approaching and leaving I the work usually requiresrespective rates of movement of the two drums which vary so greatly that a devicein which the drums are driven simultaneously a as above described would be useless and inoperative for the purposes of the present invention.

In feeding and guiding a mining machine,

one cable drum is normally adapted to be driven in one direction 1) suitable earinfl b 1'.)

connected with the mining machine motor, to

wind up a draft cable thereon, while a second drum, similarly constructed butdisconnected from the motor, is allowed to'rotate in the direction to pay out the cable therefrom under control of the manually controlled retarding; device, such as a' friction band. It has been found advisablehowever, 7

under certain conditions to reverse the normal functlonsof the two drums; that is to say, the normally dr ven drum is d1scon nected from the motor by suitable clutch means and is allowed to rotate in the opposite direction to pay out the cable'under con trol of aretarding device, while the opposite drum becomes motor driven. In] other words, I contemplate that-the mining inachine is to be provided with two drums of the construction shown and described'in the present invention, each of which is provided with a driving mechanism and a retarding device. It will be seen, from the following description, that means are provided for automatically engagin'g'the retarding device with the drum when the latter is moved in the direction opposite to that in which it is adapted to be driven, and similarly, the retarding device is automatically disengaged when the drum is driven in its normal directionby the motor. Furthermore, means are provided whereby: the driving and retarding engagements may be reversed so as to be applied in the opposite directions, respectively; that isto say, the drum may either be,

driven in a clockwise, and released in counter-clockwise direction, or vice versa, as desired. Means are also providedfor allowing the drum to' be turned by hand in either direction.

. Other objects of the invention will appear.

from time to time as the description proceeds. The invention consists in the combination, construction and arrangement of the parts as will hereiafter be described in connection with the accompanying drawings and more particularly defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine in normal cutt ng position.

Figure 2 1s a rear elevation of the driving mechanism, drawn to a larger scale than Fig I line 77.of Figure 5. i

v Figure 8 is a section of the drum taken on line 8-8 of Figure 7 and Figure 9 is a detail. My invention is shown as applied to a mining machine having a mainframe A, and a cutting element 1 projecting therefrom. This cutting element is preferably provided with an endless cutter chain C of the usual pattern, which is driven by the motor B, to cut a horizontal kerf in the mine wall as the machine advances. The cutter chain C may be reversed to cut in either direction, and driven in the reverse direction by reversing the motor. I

1 Figure 1 shows the arrangement of the machine and control ropes during the normal cutting operation across the working face; A rope 2 is adapted to be wound on a drum 3, mounted on the left side of the machine frame A. Said rope passes from said drum over a pulley 4 adjacent the front end of the machine frame, and thence to a suitable anchor 5, fixed at a distance from the machine,

' and near the working face along which the machine is to be moved. A second rope 6 is anchored at the opposite end of. the work ing face, and is led over suitably arranged pulleys 7 and 8, at the rear end of the machine frame, to a second drum 9, on the right side of the machine. The arrangement 1:5 such that in the normal cutting position i llustrated in this figure, the ropedrum 3 is connected thru driving 'mecha'nism, to be hereinafter describechto the motor 13. The opposite drum 9-is disconnected from the driving mechanism, and during the normal cut across the face, is released at a rate substantiallythe same as the rate of take-up on the rope 2, by means of an adjustable friction band device 10 on the drum 9. The purpose of the rope 6 is to restrain the movement of the rear end of the machine, and maintain the proper angular relation of the cutter bar to theworking face.

' Referring now more particularly to details of the mining machine shown, means are provided for reversing the normal functions of the two drums above described, wherebylthe drum 9 may have a driving connection with the motor, and theother drum 3 may be releascd'thrua friction device 11 similar to the friction devicelO above described.

The functions of the two drums being therefore mutually reversible, I find it preferable to. make the drums identical in construction.

The main elements of'the driving mechanism for drums 3 and 9 comprise a longitudiiial shaft 12 geared to the motor B, a worm gear 13 actuated by said longitudinal shaft, a variable speed mechanism 1 1, and an endwise movable shaft 15 driven by said variable speed mechanism, and provided with interlocking clutches 16 and 17 on opposite end thereof. The driving connection between clutch 16 and the drum 3 comprises a shaft 18. driving pinion 19 and gear ring 20 on said drum. The driving connection between clutch 17 and the drum 9, comprises a. pinion 21, idler gear 22, and a gear ring 23 on the latter drum. The purpose of the idler gear 22 is to drive said drum in a direction opposite to that of the other drum 8.

The variablespeed mechanism '14 is preferably of the planetary type, provided with an external friction band 1 k, and a friction adjusting handle 14", for the purpose of transmitting variable speeds to the shaft 15. Details of this mechanism need not be de-, scribed excepting to indicate a clutch member 24 feathered on the shaft 15, and provided with clutch jaws 25, 25 adapted to' be engaged either with a high speed member 26, or low speed. member 2? of the planetary gear 14. The clutch member 24 is provided'with a shifter yoke 28, and. a control handle '29 attached thereto. 'Although I have shown a planetary gear variable speed mechanism, it will be understood hat as far as the broader features of mv invention are concerned any equivalent variable speed device may be substituted therefor.

The endwise movable shaft extends thru the'variable speed mechanism '14 and worm gear 13 to form an axial bearing therewith. The clutch 16 on the left end of said shaft comprises an annular flange on said shaft, provided with clutch jaws 31, 31, adapted to engage with corresponding clutch jaws 32, 32 on the connecting shaft 18 extending to the left hand drum 3. The shaft 15 is also provided with a recess 33 in which a reduced portion 34 of the connecting shaft 18 extends, for the purpose of maintaining the two shafts in alig'ment with each other.

The clutch 17 for connecting the shaft 15 to-the right'hand drum 9 is located adjacent the interior face of the pinion 21 on the right hand side of the ma"hine. Said clutch comprises a sleeve 35 fixed to the shaft 15 and extending thru the pinion 21 to form an axial bearing therewith. Clutch aws 36,

36 are carried by said sleeve, and are adapted to engage corresponding clutch jaws 37, 37, preferably formed integral with the pinion 21. Means for shiftingthe shaft '15 comprises a shifter yoke 38 mounted on the sleeve 35, provided with a shifter arm 38 which'is operated by a suitable control handle 39, (see Figure 2). In the position shown in Figures 2, 3, and 4,'the shaft 15 is in neutral position. that is to say, clutches 16 and 17 are both disengaged. It will be seen that if the control handle 39 is moved downwardly, the shaft 15 will be moved longitudinally so as to engage the clutch 16 to form a driving connection with. the rope drum 3. On. the other hand, if the. control handle is moved upwardly. the shaft will be moved in the opposite direc tion, clutch 1.6 will be disengaged and the opposite clutch 17 will become engaged to form a driving connection with drum 9.

The rope drums 3 and 9, ashereinbefore pointed out, are preferably identical in construction. so that a detailed description of one of the drums will apply to both.

Referring now more particularly to the novel features of my invention, the drum3 comprises a hub 40, a web 41, a channel portion 49. extending in one direction to receive the cable, and arim 43extend1ng 1n the opposite direction from the web as shown.

The hub is mounted on a suitable bearlill a plurality of notches '47, 47' spaced about the interior surface thereof. In the device is loosely illustrated, the driving gear ring is provided of the drum. A cam member53 is affixed to the outer 'endof pin 50, adjacent the kouter face ofthe web 41 asshown inFigure 7'.- Said cam member is provided with an elongated face extending longitudinally of the pawl 48 with which it is associated as shown in detail in Figure 9. i I

The friction device 10 is mounted adjacent the gear ring 20 on the rim 43 and comprises a friction ring 54 and a friction band 56 of any suitable pattern adapted to'be manually controlled in any well known manner.

The friction ring 54 is loosely mounted on the flanged rim 43 and 'is provided .with a ratchet and. pawl device similar to that here--. inbefore desu'ibed in connection with the gear ring 20. Said ratchet and pawl de vice comprises notches 57, 57 on the friction ring, a pawl 58, rocking pin 59, and cam member 60. The two sets of pa'Wl's and cams are preferably arranged on opposite sides of. the hub as shown. a

Means for controlling the movement of the pawls comprises an annular ring 61 mounted .on the outer end of'the drum hub 40 and. carrying a pair. of tension members '62, 62 adapted to engage the cams 53and respectively as shown in Figure 5. vSaid tension members each comprise an endwise movable pin 63 seated in a socket 64 formed in the periphery of the ring 61 and having a compressionspring 64 mounted within said socket tending to force said pin 63 outwardly to engage its respective pawl, as shown in Figure 9. The ring 61 is provided with a plurality of fingers .65, 65 spaced about its periphery so positioned in the recessed face of the drum as to be easily reached by the operator when it is desiredv -to shiftthe tension devices 62,62 in relation .to the cam members, and reverse'the pawls. I y

It will be observed that the pawl 58 is normally inclined to the friction ring 54 in Jim the same direction as that of the driving pawl; 48, as shown in Figure 8. When thepawls are in this position, the gear ring QO is driven by suitable operative connections in a clockwise direction, and the pawl 48 becomes engaged in one of the notches 47 so as to drive the drum therewith. Similarly, the pawl 58 be omes released. so that the drum may be driven independently of the friction device.- Vhen the driving connection to the motor is disconnected, the drum is free to move in the opposite or counterclockwise direction until the pawl 58 engages with a notch 57 in thefrict-ion. ring 54. The rope on the drum can then be paid off only. against the friction'imposed by the band 56, which friction may be regulatedin any suitable manner as before described. If power is again applied to the gear ring 20 it will again move in a clockwise direction until pawl 48 engages a notch 47 as before, to form an operative connection between saidgear ring and the drum. It will thus be seen that the drum may alternately be driven in one direction or released against friction in the opposite direction.

Whenever it is desired to reverse the direction of driving the drum, either to reverse the direction of movement of the mining machine, or for any other purpose, the pawls 48 and 58 may be rocked about their axes by manipulation of the ring 61, (see Figure 5), so as to transpose the tension devices 62,62 from one end of the cams 53 and 60 over their respective centers, and to the opposite ends thereof. This movement of the tension devices will cause the pawls to. be rocked so as to bring their opposite ends into operative engagementwith the driving ring and friction ring respectively. By means of this arrangement, theoperator may reverse both pawls simultaneously. Any suitable means for limiting the movement of the ring 61 respective tothe drum may be provided.

In also provide means whereby the drum may be rotated by hand, independent of the driving mechanism when desired.

This means comprises a bracket 66 rotatably mounted on the end of the bearing'pin 44 and having a shoulder 67thereof adapted to engage and retain the outer face of the control ring 61. A nut 66*retains said bracket on the pin 44. Said bracket is provided with a pair of laterally extending arms 68, 68 between which a ratchet arm 69 is pivotally mounted on a pin 70. Said ratchet arm extends transversely of the axis of the drum and preferably is positioned within the boundary of the recessed face thereof, as shown in Figure 6. Means are providedfor maintaining said arm in this position which comprises a rod 71 extending longitudinally through the bearing pin 44 and a suitable slot 72 in said arm. The rod 71 is provided at one end with a retaining member 73 adapted to engage the outer face of said arm, and acompression spring 74 at the opposite end adapted to engage a shoulder 7 5 within the pin 44 so as to normally maintain ratchet arm 69 in the position shown in full lines in Figure 6. Whenever it is desired to operate the ratchet arm. it may be swung outwardly toa position indicated in dotted lines in Figure 6 in which position a lug 76 at the outer end thereofmay be engaged with any one of the lugs 7'7, 77 arranged about the outer face of the drum portion 4-2, (see Figure 5).

A crow-bar or other suitable device may be inserted in a socket 7 8 formed in the outer end ofthe ratchet arm to provide a greater leverage for rotating the drum in this manner. i

From the above description, it will be clear that I have provided'a simple and durable constructionof cable drum in which the pawl mechanism is entirely enclosed and protected from the dust, dirt and other foreign accumulations. The adjusting mechanisms for the pawls and the ratchet mechanism for turning the drum by hand are both nested in the recessed face of thedrum, but in view of, and easily accessible to the operator.

hen it is desired to reverse or actuate the pawls, one of the fingers 65, will always be in position where it maybe easily reached to rotate the control ring 61. associated with the tension devices 62, 62. If it is desired to temporarily disengage the pawls, the tension device (52 may be moved into alignment with the axes of said pawls, that is to say,.to the center of the cams 53 and '60 so as to maintain the pawls out of engagement in either direction.

The pawls are interlocked so asto be 'op-' erable simultaneously, and are thus maintamed in proper relat on w1th each other so as to provide the desired drlving engagement with the ring 20 in one direction of movement thereof so as to wind up the rope on the drum. and an automatic engagement with the friction or retarding device when the drum is moved in the opposite direction to unwind the rope.' The pawls may also be simultaneously moved into an inoperative position, to allow the drum to be rotated freely in either direction. Furthermore, in case it is desired to reverse the direction of cutting of the entire machine, together with the cutter chain, to cut in the opposite dimotion, the pawls may be reversed by a" afiexible cable, driving means'operable to rotate each of said drums in a direction to wind its cable thereon, retarding means operable to automatically engage each of said.

drums when it is rotated to unwind its cable thereon, and means associated with each drum for simultaneously disengaging both driving means, and retarding means whereby the cable may be unwound freely of said driving and retarding means.

2. In a mining machine provided with cutting mechanism extending longitudinally therefrom, the combination of two winding drums each associated with a flexible cable, a motor, and driving means between said motor and each of said drums, a ratchet and pawl device adapted in one position to drive each of said drums in one direction, a retarding device associated with each drum, and a second ratchet and pawl device on each drum, adapted in one position to operatively connect said retarding device with said drum when the latter is rotated in a direction opposite to that in which it is driven, and

interlocking means connecting both of said of two winding drums each associated with a flexible cable, a motor, and reversible driving means between said motor and'each of said drums consisting of a reversible ratchet and pawl device affording operative con nection between said driving means and each of said drums to rotate the latter in either direction, a retarding device associated with each drum, and a second reversible ratchet and pawl device on each drum affording an operative connection between said retarding means and said drum ineither direction of 'tive connection with the retarding device.

Signed at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, this 27th day of December, 1922. 1

WILLIAM T. MCCULLOUGH. 

